How Well Do You Know Man's Best Friend??

DOGS have been man's best friend for more than

10,000 years, but how the relationship evolved has never been clear.
Our canine friends might be descended from wolves,

but they don't have too much in common with the wild beasts.

But how well do you know our four-legged friends?

Here are some fun facts about our canine companions...

All but two breeds of dogs have pink tongues.

The chow chow and the shar-pei, both have black tongues.

Dalmatian puppies are born pure white,

with their spots developing as they mature.

Basset hounds cannot swim. Their legs are too short

to keep their heavy, long bodies afloat.

Dogs can sniff out cancer by recognising its

signature smell, according to a 2006 study.

The smallest dog in history was a Yorkshire terrier.

At two years of age, fully grown, he was 2.5 inches tall

and 3.75 inches long. He weighed only four ounces.

Dog owners live longer, happier lives,

with less stress and fewer heart attacks.

The average city dog lives three years longer than a country dog.

A dog's sense of smell is about 1000 times stronger than a human.

The world's smartest dogs are thought to be

the border collie, the poodle and the golden retriever.

a recent poll found that 33 per cent of dog owners

admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and

leaving answering machine messages for them while away.

More fun facts at Daily Record!